New York Getaway

Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. I’m sure you’ve all been waiting with bated breath!

Lee and I just got back from an amazing New York City vacation. It was the first time for both of us, and it’s safe to say that I fell in love. From the food, to the culture to the beautiful architecture, I can see why NYC is such a draw for so many people.

Lee and I arrived last Wednesday and took a taxi to meet up with my cousin, Liz, at her workplace. She brought us to her office on the 45th floor. The views did not disappoint.

She works right off the High Line, which is essentially an old railroad line that has been turned in to a park. It was an excellent way to walk around and get acclimated. We dropped off our luggage and quickly got busy enjoying the city.

Once Liz was done with work, we went on a boat cruise around the city. The cruise was a sweet gift from my aunts; an NYC experience to celebrate my recent college graduation. The views were amazing!

Not only was it amazing for me and Lee to see the city and some of the surrounding neighborhoods from the river, but it was also exciting watching Liz fall in love with the city all over again.

After the tour we traveled to Liz’s home in West Harlem. She lives in a cute, quiet neighborhood; a surprisingly large one bedroom apartment on the first floor of a New York brownstone. The neighborhood was perfect. Far enough away from the NYC hustle and bustle, yet no more than a 10 minute train ride from the heart of the action.

Thursday morning we got up early to make the most of our first full day in the city. We visited the 9/11 memorial and Freedom Tower. It was absolutely breathtaking.

From there, we made our way to the Brooklyn Bridge. The first part of the walk was rather annoying. There were so many tourists! I realize I am also a tourist, but I always walk with a purpose. I walk fast and move out-of-the-way if I need to stop for any reason. This allowed me to blend in fairly well on the sidewalks of NYC. Once we made it past the initial horde, we were able to take some amazing pictures.

Once we made it to Brooklyn, we stopped at Grimaldi’s for their world-famous New York style pizza. Lee considers himself to be quite the pizza connoisseur, so this was a must do. Lee’s rating? “Good”.

After Brooklyn we headed back into Manhattan to make our way through Central Park. We were meeting Lee’s cousin, his wife and their son at Sheep Meadow for a glass of wine before heading out for dinner. Central Park was beautiful. We didn’t spend as much time in Central Park as I would have liked, but I get the feeling that no matter how many times we visit, I’ll never grow tired of all there is to do and see in the park. Talk about a beautiful place for a picnic.

Dinner that evening was at a Brooklyn restaurant called Marlow & Sons. The food was amazing. The passion was evident, not only in the dishes we were served, but in the knowledge and friendliness displayed by each employee that we interacted with. I highly recommend if you’re ever in the area.

Friday & Saturday were miserably hot. We spent time about half our time walking around and the other half searching for bars with air conditioning. Any excuse to stop for an ice-cold beverage, am I right?

We spent Sunday morning packing up and taking one last walk through West Harlem before we headed home. I can say without a doubt that I will visit New York again. Hopefully sooner rather than later. It was a great vacation; an unforgettable experience that will leave us with amazing memories.

Now Lee and I are home and reality is coming at us rather quickly. We have a lot we need to get done by the end of the month in order to be eligible for IVF in September. But at least, if only for a few days, we were able to forget all the uncertainty and stresses waiting for us at home. And for that, I will cherish this trip for the rest of my life.